'I stand by what I said': Rahul on France denying any secrecy pact on Rafale deal

"He (French President Macron) said that before me..I was there, Anand Sharma and Ex PM (Manmohan Singh) was there”, said Gandhi.

Image: PTI

New Delhi: France government today refuted the claims made by Rahul Gandhi about his conversation with the country’s President Emmanuel Macron over the secrecy pact related to Rafale deal. However, Rahul Gandhi has stood strong on his claims despite the official denial by the French government. Maintaining his stand on his earlier statement Rahul said that if France may wish to, they can deny it. He told: “He (French President Macron) said that before me..I was there, Anand Sharma and Ex PM (Manmohan Singh) was there”.

I stand by what I said. Let them (France) deny if they want. Along with me Anand Sharma and Ex-PM were also there: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on French President Macron denying any secrecy pact on Rafale deal #NoConfidenceMotion LIVE Coverage: https://t.co/DklVA2kRqn pic.twitter.com/kF6ddp5Low

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) July 20, 2018

During his speech in Lok Sabha earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi had attacked Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the secrecy maintained by the Centre on the Rafale deal. He said: “Defence Minister had earlier promised that she would reveal the price of the Rafale aircraft, but she later took a U-Turn and said that there is secrecy pact with France on Rafale deal.” He then claimed that he personally met President of France and asked him if any such pact existed, to which the French President clearly said ‘there is no pact’.

Defence Minister said there is secrecy pact with France on Rafale deal. I personally met President of France and asked him if any such pact existed, he clearly said there is no pact: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha #NoConfidenceMotion pic.twitter.com/i1j5g5Mtoc

— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2018

The Government of France took note of Rahul’s claim before the parliament and has stated that- when a deal is very sensitive, all details cannot be revealed.  France stated that the two countries (France and India) concluded in 2008 a Security agreement, which legally binds the two States to protect the classified information provided by the partner, that could impact security and operational capabilities of the defence equipment of India or France. These provisions naturally apply to the IGA concluded on 23 September 2016 on the acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft and their weapons, asserted the French government. When Rahul was attacking the defence minister over the secrecy pact with France, the speaker Sumitra Mahajan had asked him to refrain if the allegations did not have solid facts to support it or if the evidence or witness is not present for confirmation of the claims.